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| Princeton Battlefield
State Park
Location:
Mercer County
Mailing Address:
500 Mercer Road
Princeton NJ 08540-4810
(609) 921-0074
Size:
100 acres
Fees: No entrance fee.
Link to the Related
Fees page
 Directions:
Located on Mercer Road (Princeton Pike). 1.5 miles
south of Princeton University and 3.8 miles north
of Interstate 295/95.
Facilities & Activities:
- Trails
- Birdwatching
- Open lawns
- Cross-country skiing
- FAQ's
Trails:
- Hiking trails lead to the
Delaware and Raritan Canal and the Institute
for Advanced Study Woods
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On January 3, 1777,
the peaceful winter fields and woods of Princeton Battlefield
were transformed into the site of what is considered to be
the fiercest fight of its size during the American Revolution.
During this desperate battle, American troops under General
George Washington surprised and defeated a force of British
Regulars. Coming at the end of "The Ten Crucial Days"
which saw the well-known night crossing of the Delaware River
and two battles in Trenton, the Battle of Princeton gave Washington
his first victory against the British Regulars on the field.
The battle extended over a mile away to the College of New
Jersey (now Princeton University).
The famous Mercer Oak, once stood in the
middle of the battlefield, not far from the spot where General
Hugh Mercer fell during the Battle of Princeton. The Clarke
House, built by Thomas Clarke in 1772, witnessed the fierce
fighting and served as sanctuary for General Mercer, who died
there nine days later. The house contains period furniture
and Revolutionary War exhibits.
Through the Carry-In/Carry-Out Program you can help us keep your parks clean
and beautiful by carrying out the trash you carry in. Bags are provided
throughout the site. Thank you for your cooperation and remember to recycle.
Princeton Battlefield, the Clarke House Museum,
Offspring, Mercer Oak, the Ionic Colonnade designed by Thomas
U. Walter (architect of the US Capitol Building), a stone
patio marking the grave of 21 British and 15 American soldiers
killed in the battle. A poem was written for the site by Alfred
Noyes, Poet Laureate of England.
| Princeton
Battle Monument |
The monument, designed by sculptor Frederick
MacMonnies and dedicated by President Harding, is located
on park property at Stockton Street and Bayard Street in Princeton.
Adjacent to the park, the Institute Woods is comprised of a 588
acre mixed hardwood, wetlands and agricultural land with a variety
of trails. Most trails are level to slightly graded. There are
no specific ADA trails but many level trails.
| FAQ's
(Frequently Asked Questions) |
| May
the Park be used for weddings and other functions? |
Weddings and/or public functions are not allowed in Princeton Battlefield State Park |
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